TAHLEQUAH — People become followers of Jesus Christ and call themselves Christians for their faith, because of experiences, or perhaps because they grew up in a Christian home.

Donna Allen, pastor of Love Light Christian Center, 312 N. Maple, found the Lord when she almost died.

“My life was changed when, as a 17-year-old, I had a near-death experience, and met Jesus face to face,” Allen said. “He was so different than my idea of him had been. He was loving and accepting and even funny, laughing with me and letting me know he really loved me. I have spent my life since then telling anyone who will listen about him.”

While her name may not be one everyone knows, the ministry Allen founded – King’s Aid Station – has been very active in the community, and began as a mission to the poor of Tahlequah.

“I was attending Bible school right here in Tahlequah when I was called by God through a vision to begin a ministry to the poor,” Allen said.

The Holy Spirit Bible School was founded by Elizabeth Pruitt, one of the first students to attend Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, said Allen.

“We began with ‘God’s Great Giveaway,’ which continues to this day at 706 Cherrie St.,” said Allen. “We give away clothes and food and household goods to those in need. Now, we are a wonderful spirit-filled congregation of believers.”

The ministry’s community outreach includes, an Angel Tree at Reasor’s at Christmas,  and a Christmas giveaway, Dec. 19-20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“The Kings Aid Station is our outreach to the poor, and has been in operation since 1984. Every Christmas, we have a toy drive and help about 200 children and their parents have a blessed holiday,” Allen said. “We have always had great support from the community.”

Love Light Christian Center is one of three churches near the corner of Maple and Ward. A new, larger facility is on the southeast corner. Services are Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Wednesday evening at 6:30.

“Our services are contemporary and exciting, filled with prophecy, [speaking in] tongues and interpretation, healing and the power of God. We have seen many miracles: people healed of cancer, tumors, diabetes and every sort of injury,” Allen said. “We believe everyone who walks into Love Light Christian Center will have an encounter with God, and isn’t that what we need?”

Music is an integral part of the worship service.

“Our praise and worship [service] is contemporary,” said Allen. “Our band is led by my son, Joshua Allen, who is band director at Tahlequah High School and our associate pastor. We have wonderful music that ushers in the presence of God.”

For 15 years, she has been doing a radio show, “Voice of the Spirit,” on Sunday mornings.

“I love to hear from people who are listening and being blessed. It’s also a lot of fun,” she said.

The scriptures that represent the church are Isaiah 58:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 14:26.

“My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3:5, which says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding,’” Allen said.

She believes the whole planet is crying out for salvation, and that the end times are near.

“I believe we are in the end times because of the number of great men and women of God who are hearing and led by the spirit of God, prophesying that we are indeed coming to the end of this age,” she said. “I exhort my congregation to perfect themselves in holiness and maintain their spiritual condition. We know by the spirit that Jesus is coming soon.”

Allen believes messages spoken in tongues are the Holy Spirit speaking to the church in the language of angels.

“The message is then interpreted, which is a separate gift. The gifts of the spirit are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. They are the power and ministry of the Holy Spirit of God,” Allen said. “God is on the throne, Jesus is seated on his right hand, ‘ever living to make intercession for us.’”

It is the Holy Spirit of God who ministers to people now on earth, she said.

“The gifts of the spirit are God speaking and helping his people through acts of power. The power of God saves, heals delivers and establishes his children’s lives in prosperity and joy,” Allen said. “What would we do without the power of God in manifestation?”

Donna and her husband, Dean, a local businessman, moved here from Colorado 30 years ago.

“Dean and I moved to Oklahoma to go to Rhema and study under Kenneth Hagin. When circumstances prevented that, God brought the Bible school to us,” she said.

 

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